| Category | Template | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Text | Text |
| Author | Author | Author |
| Collection | Collection | Collection |
| Keywords | Keywords | Keywords |
| Subpage | Subpage | Subpage |
| Template | Form |
|---|---|
| BrowseTexts | BrowseTexts |
| BrowseAuthors | BrowseAuthors |
| BrowseLetters | BrowseLetters |
Template:GalleryAuthorsPreviewSmall
Special pages :
A Self-Portrait of Yaroslavsky
| Author(s) | Leon Trotsky |
|---|---|
| Written | 1 July 1930 |
"Signed Alfa"
The irreplaceable colleague, Yaroslavsky, in the interests of self-criticism, read at the Congress a description of a Communist given by a certain organization in a forsaken locality: âConsistent, politically literate, has no firm convictions of his own. Awaits what other will say.â The report records âlaughterâ. But if one stops to think, it is not at all a laughing matter. It is only too true. And maybe this is precisely why it is so ludricious. The province has hit the mark, describing not a man but a type.
Yes, even if we take this same Yaroslavsky. In 1923, he wrote panegyrics to Trotsky. In 1925, he wrote agreeing with Zinovievâs Leninism, which was directed entirely against Stalin. In 1927, he wrote that Bucharin has no deviations whatever and that he is educating the youth in the spirit of Leninism.
But can it be said that Yaroslavsky is inconsistent? Nobody will say that. He is quite consistent, even too consistent. Politically illiterate? No, of course not. At worst â he is semi-literate. Has he his own firm convictions? It appears that he has not. But why should convictions be firm? They are not metallic. But how is it that Yaroslavsky, without firm convictions, maintains himself at the top? Very simple. He âawaits what others will sayâ.
No, the Congress laughed for nothing. The description fits perfectly.